Apparatus and method for securely monitoring the sales transactions of bulk vending machines

• US 7,083,036 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optical Entertainment Network, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Entertainment Services Incorporated (NEN Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adams, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US10/458,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 377/7, 221/7, 453/32, 194/202, 194/219, 194/223, 194/230, 194/220, 194/231, 194235-245, 194/255, 194/292, 700/236, 700/237, 700/241, 700/244
• US Class Current: 194/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/22 electrically actuated

Abstract

An apparatus for securely monitoring the sales transactions in bulk vending machines, said apparatus comprising at least one bulk vending machine having a coin mechanism. The coin mechanism includes a coin plate; a selectively rotatable shaft extending radially therefrom; a coin shuttle, a cam-bearing lobe and a coin mechanism adapter plate co-axially and collectively located around the selectively rotatable shaft; and a first switch and a second switch. The first and second switches are fixedly mounted and oriented on the coin mechanism adapter plate so that the maximum amount of backlash in the coin mechanism is less than the angular spread of the switches. The coin mechanism further includes a microprocessor having a sales counter; and means for communicatingly connecting the first and second switches to said microprocessor, whereby the microprocessor will advance the sales counter one numeric count and record a single vend only after the cam-borne lobe contacts and completely closes both first and second switches, when it is rotated as a result of a coin deposited in the coin mechanism.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securely monitoring the sales transactions in bulk vending machines, said apparatus comprising at least one hulk vending machine having a coin mechanism;

said coin mechanism comprising a coin plate, a selectively rotatable shaft extending radially therefrom, a coin shuttle, a cam-bearing lobe and a coin mechanism adapter plate co-axially and collectively located around said selectively rotatable shaft;

a first switch and a second switch, said first and second switches being fixedly mounted and oriented on said coin mechanism adapter plate so that the maximum amount of backlash in said coin mechanism is less than the angular spread of said switches;

a microprocessor having a sales counter; and

means for communicatingly connecting said first and second switches to said microprocessor, whereby said microprocessor will advance said sales counter one numeric count and record a single vend only after said cam-borne lobe contacts and completely closes both first and second switches, when said lobe-bearing cam is rotated as a result of a coin deposited in said coin mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second switches further comprise switch levers and the maximum amount of backlash in said coin mechanism is less than the angular spread of said switch levers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a portable reader, said portable reader comprising means for becoming communicatingly connected to said microprocessor, downloading, and storing all vend data contained in said microprocessor after the appropriate initialization data and the appropriate transmission commands are inputted into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for becoming communicatingly connected to said microprocessor and downloading and storing said vend data comprises a power source, a CPU, a memory, a first communication port, a keypad and a display, whereby said power source provides the power to energize said portable reader;

said keypad, said CPU and said display operate together for the purpose of entering the appropriate initialization data and transmission commands; and

said CPU, said memory and said first communications port operate to download said vend data stored in said microprocessor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising printing means communicatingly connected to said portable reader whereby the vend data downloaded from said microprocessor can be printed for review, study and evaluation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the input- into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for becoming communicatingly connected to said microprocessor and downloading and storing said vend data comprises a power source, a CPU, a memory, a first communication port, a keypad and a display, whereby said power source provides the power to energize said portable reader;

said keypad, said CPU and said display operate together for the purpose of entering the appropriate initialization data and transmission commands; and

said CPU, said memory and said first communications port operate to download said vend data stored in said microprocessor.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a portable reader, said portable reader comprising means for becoming communicatingly connected to said microprocessor and downloading and storing all vend data contained in said microprocessor after the appropriate initialization data and the appropriate transmission commands are inputted into said portable reader.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said means for becoming communicatingly connected to said microprocessor and downloading and storing said vend data comprises a power source, a CPU, a memory, a first communication port, a keypad and a display, whereby said power source provides the power to energize said portable reader;

said keypad, said CPU and said display operate together for the purpose of entering the appropriate initialization data and transmission commands; and

said CPU, said memory and said first communications port operate to download said vend data stored in said microprocessor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising printing means communicatingly connected to said portable reader whereby the vend data downloaded from said microprocessor can be printed for review, study and evaluation.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for becoming communicatingly connected to said microprocessor and downloading and storing said vend data comprises a power source, a CPU, a memory, a first communication port, a keypad and a display, whereby said power source provides the power to energize said portable reader;

said keypad, said CPU and said display operate together for the purpose of entering the appropriate initialization data and transmission commands; and

said CPU, said memory and said first communications port operate to download said vend data stored in said microprocessor.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data and said transmission commands.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said microprocessor further comprises a tamper circuit, said tamper circuit being capable of detecting any unauthorized operations on said microprocessor, locking said microprocessor, and allowing said microprocessor to transmit its vend data only after an unlock code is properly entered into said microprocessor via said portable reader.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the input into said microprocessor via said portable reader is strictly limited to said initialization data, said transmission commands and said unlock code.